INTRODUCTION
GAIN ATTENTION
PURPOSE
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
Ref: FMFM 1-3b, FMFM 0-11, II MEF SOTG URBAN SNIPER COURSE
8541.1.10
8541.1.7
8541.1.13
8541.1.15
8541.1.16
MISSION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Ref: FMFM 1-3b, FMFM 0-11, II MEF SOTG URBAN SNIPER COURSE
8541.1.1.18
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Without the aid of references the student will be able to understand the basic fundamentals of urban counter sniper operations.
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. State the characteristics of a professionally trained and capable urban sniper.
2. State the characteristics of an amateur or untrained urban sniper.
3. State how to use deception in an urban combat environment
4. State the "key targets" in an urban combat environment.
METHOD AND MEDIA
This period of instruction will be taught through lecture.
TESTING
This period of instruction will be evaluated through practical application.
TRANSITION
BODY
1. The Sniper Mindset
A professional sniper, who as part of a unit with a legitimate mission, is a far cry from a cold blooded killer who roams an urban battlefield seeking to target anyone or anything to kill or terminate. The professional sniper is just that, a professional, who uses his training and field craft in a high-risk situation in order to accomplish his mission. He is flexible and comfortable in a multitude of combat environments - he assesses his environment and uses his skills to control it.
2. The Professional Sniper as Opposed to the Amateur
a. The Professional:
1) Pre-selected for sniper training based on psychological evaluation and natural skills.
2) Completes a rigorous training and evaluation program.
3) Skills include marksmanship and sniper field craft, patience and ability to focus are a must.
4) Must be able to operate independently, make decisions based on situational awareness (SA).
5) Must be pro-active, not merely an observer of significant events.
b. The Amateur:
1) Not evaluated for the job at hand nor trained for the task.
2) Will randomly shoot at targets with no thought towards overall mission or ramifications.
3) Marksmanship skills and field craft are lacking, takes unnecessary chances to engage a target of suspect opportunity.
4) Not proactive in the way a professional "thinks on his feet".
3. Sniper Hunting Another Sniper
Throughout history, many units conducting urban combat operations often employed direct and indirect supporting arms, close air support (CAS) and/or large numbers of ground forces to counter urban snipers. However, the Russian and German forces of World War II found that the best solution to a sniper threat was the employment of their own snipers in a counter sniper role. The advantage to using a trained sniper to counter enemy snipers for Marine units include:
a. Two man teams to counter the sniper threat rather than a squad or more of infantry.
b. The relative ease of movement over the urban battlefield of a sniper team versus that of a larger ground formation.
c. Counter snipers that "know the habits and modus operandi" of their enemy counterparts.
d. The ability to deliver "precision fire" and the resulting reduction in collateral damage and/or civilian and friendly casualties.
4. Counter Sniper Immediate Action (IA) Drills
Unit counter sniper standing operating procedures (SOPs) should include:
a. Speed to avoid being hit and to rapidly engage the enemy sniper.
b. The avoidance of setting predictable patterns.
c. The use of smoke or other obscurants to cover friendly movements. However, it must be noted that the NVA and VC forces in Hue soon realized that Marine forces used smoke for this purpose and successfully engaged friendly infantrymen "through the smoke" where they thought a unit movement was taking place.
d. Avoid shadowing and silhouetting.
e. Use planned routes based on prior reconnaissance and always have a planned escape route from each point during a unit movement.
5. Deception in the Urban Environment The following are but a few examples of deceptive measures for snipers to utilize when employed in a counter sniper role:
a. Dummy hides and/or positions.
b. Obvious FFP's.
c. Dummy tracks.
d. Fake optics and weapons barrels.
e. Deceptive camouflage of buildings.
6. The Identification of the Enemy's Key Sniper Targets
Often, just a knowledge (and awareness) of who enemy snipers are targeting can go a long way in preventing unnecessary casualties. Examples of targets include:
a. Officers
b. Other unit leaders
c. Inexperienced troops
d. Crew served weapons personnel
e. Radio operators
f. Tank commanders
QUESTIONS
SUMMARY
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